WEST CHESTER, PA – Walnut St. Labs, an Innovation Lab in West Chester, PA, is partnering with i2n (Ideas x Innovation Network) and NextFab to launch a “Mini-Makerspace”.
Walnut St. Labs, i2n and NextFab have teamed up to provide access and create educational opportunities for 3D Printing to innovators in the suburbs of Philadelphia. The Chester County Economic Development Council’s i2n has offered leadership strategy and financial support to help launch this initiative. Walnut St. Labs has registered their 2 Bukitos on Hubs.com (Formerly 3D Hubs) and will host regular demonstrations for local audiences to aid in their fabrication process.
“We’re continuing on in our mission to build an innovation hub, with a vast span of community resources. We started with software-based offerings, and now, we’ve partnered with a premier makerspace in Philadelphia to move into the micro-fabrication space.” said Chris Dima, Founder and CEO of Walnut St. Labs. “We love how ambitious NextFab has been about sharing access to new technologies with the public — and we want in!”
Walnut St. Labs was formed at the end of 2013. Its mission is to foster innovation through coworking, weekly events and technology incubation for enterprise applications.
“i2n is excited to fund and to work with Walnut St. Labs and NextFab to bring community accessible 3D printing to West Chester,” says Mary Fuchs, Senior Consultant, Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n). “Not only is it a great resource for the business community, it also supports the VISTA 2025 goal to grow the innovation and entrepreneurial culture in Chester County.”
“NextFab was created to support innovators with knowledge of and access to advanced manufacturing technologies,” said Evan Malone, Founder of NextFab. “Through our 'Powered by NextFab' program, and great partners like Walnut St. Labs, we are excited to offer makerspace facilities to innovators in the Philadelphia suburbs.”
Walnut St. Labs and NextFab, with support from i2n, will be continuing to announce future applications and progressions for the suburban Mini-Makerspace at WSL. For those who are interested in learning about 3D Printing generally or printing specific parts, please join WSL on Wednesday nights for Night Owls, from 7-10PM.
For more information, please contact Ben Bock at Walnut St. Labs ([email protected]) or Alex Kaplan at NextFab ([email protected]).
About Walnut St. Labs
Walnut Street Labs is an innovation hub located in West Chester, PA. Its mission is to promote and create innovation in greater Chester County and Southeastern PA. WSL has established a physical space for startups to work and collaborate, a robust event calendar filled with inspirational entrepreneurs and innovators along with an advisor network, comprised of business leaders with a wide range of expertise.
About NextFab
NextFab’s mission is to foster innovation and manufacturing as key elements of our nation’s identity and economy, through providing broad-based awareness of, access to, competence with, and commerce enabled by Next-generation digital design and Fabrication technologies and services. NextFab.com
About i2n
i2n is funded in part by private sector support, educational partners, and the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development’s Discovered in PA, Developed in PA program. The Chester County Economic Development Council is a private, non-profit economic development organization promoting smart growth in Chester County and the surrounding region for more than 50 years. The CCEDC provides proven financing solutions, cultivates workforce talent, leverages business partnerships, and fosters entrepreneurial collaboration. Together, with the support of the private and public sectors, CCEDC initiates, implements and innovates programs that improve the business community and enhance the quality of life in Chester County. For more information, visit our websites, www.i2npa.org and www.cceconomicdevelopment.com.
